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There was more going on Saturday than just a soccer match, at least as far as Hubert Busby Jr. was concerned.

While the Seattle Sounders Women's coach was evaluating his team in their friendly against Central Washington University, which ended in a 2-2 tie, Busby was also taking note of the Wildcat players as well as the response from the substantial crowd at Marquette Stadium.

"Our goal is to always be recruiting and looking at this area," Busby said. "But the bigger picture with the Sounders Women, the Sounders Academy and the club overall is to support soccer in the state.

"I tell our players that every time they put on the jersey, they're representing something bigger than themselves."

That was evident in the number of girls soccer players in attendance, from young youth teams through high school.

"Usually you can only see these players on TV," said Janeya Deloza, who had come to the match with Jordan Jolley and Abby Wammock, among others, following their tryout for the Crossfire Academy U-13 team. "I can see what it'll be like (at higher levels) and what I need to work on."

Jolley, who already has a goal of playing at least in college, echoed that sentiment, saying, "I like learning ... and it's pretty exciting to watch these players."

That impact is certainly not lost on the Sounders and Central players.

"When I was little, I was out at every game I could get to. If I was one of these girls, I'd be super stoked to come out here and watch these teams play," said CWU freshman midfielder Emily Seelbach, who scored the Wildcats' second goal, late in the first half, on a beautiful left-footed shot from outside the box.

"I can't wait for these girls to be ready to play at our level," Seelbach continued. "That's why we want to get them started playing at a young age so they'll be able to play in college or the pros."

"I coach a U-8 team and a little girl on my team asked me, "Are you on TV?' I said no and she asked why?" said Sounders forward and CWU alum Arica Slawson, who scored Seattle's first goal. "Hopefully, by the time she's old enough to play for us, we'll have grown enough that we are on TV."

Being able to bring such exhibitions to places like Yakima is an important step in achieving that goal.

"Yakima has traditionally been a place where soccer has been played well and it's important (for us) to be able to play a role in that continuing and building," Busby said. "Anything that inspires, especially young women, to have role models and to aspire to be something is fantastic."

"This is a chance for them to see the players on the field and know where they're at and what they need to work on," said Bob McAllister, a former Yakima Red and currently a coach with the Central Washington Soccer Academy. "It provides more drive. It's motivation."

While most of the focus was on the Sounders, Central and head coach Michael Farrand also welcomed the chance to play in Yakima, an area where the Wildcats have recruited heavily in recent years.

"It was good to show what we do," he said, right after talking with Davis High soccer player Sarah Reiber, a junior who is interested in playing at Central after she graduates.

Before the match, Reiber and Pirate teammate Marla Meza both said they want to play in college, which was why they were in attendance.

"I want to watch their style of play and see how it can help me improve my game," said Reiber, who played a season on a Farrand-coached youth team.

"It's an opportunity to watch soccer at a higher level," Meza said, "and learn what I need to do to get to that level"

Just the type of response that's music to the ears of people like Busby and Farrand.

"For the little girls and the club teams coming out, this was a great experience," Farrand said. "This let's them see there's something more for them (after high school). We want girls here to see quality soccer, whether it's at the college level or the pro level."